Isaiah 59:1-2 reads, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. Chapter fifty-eight and verses six through nine describes the goodness of one toward others and when he calls upon the Lord, He will answer and when he crys, God will say, “Here I am” ((Isa. 58:9).
At another time, God told Jeremiah not to pray for the people for He will not hear him (Jer. 7:16). Also, he says that He will “not hear them in the time they cry unto me because of their trouble” (Jer. 11:14). The third time Jeremiah entreats the Lord on behalf of the people in chapter 14:6-10 is met with the same refrain. God responds to Jeremiah, “: “Do not pray for the welfare of this people. Though they fast, I will not hear their cry, and though they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence” (Jer. 14:11-12).
Jeremiah’s context appears to be a prayer for the nation; whereas, Isaiah is applied to an individual. The rebellious practice of sin will hinder one’s prayer. God does not hear the prayer of one who will not acknowledge his sin and repent of it. This is Isaiah’s application. However, Jeremiah’s text demonstrates that God has determined to punish Judah and nothing is going to change it. However, if any individual from the nation returns in a humble contrite spirit to seek God’s forgiveness, God will hear from heaven and grant that request. There has always been a remnant who returns to the Lord, while the people at large will face God’s wrath.